During their one-hour visit, Dr Mahathir and his wife visited and spoke to residents of the shelter home and presented gifts of hampers and cash from the Social Welfare Department (JKM).

Also present were Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad and State Secretary Datuk A. Rahman Yahya.

One resident Mohd Firdaus Mohd Azmi, 15, said he could not sleep all last night as he was anticipating the Prime Minister’s visit because before this, he had only seen the statesman on television.

He said he would never forget the moment when he got to meet the country’s leader and to receive a gift from him.

“I slept early last night because I wanted to wake up at 5 am to welcome the Prime Minister. I feel so satisfied and happy that I got to meet him face-to-face and was chosen to go onstage to receive a gift from him, he told reporters.

His friend Mohamad Hadi Abdullah, 13, said he and other friends were very excited when told that they would get visitors led by the country’s top leader.

He said not many people get to meet the prime minister, and he himself had only seen Tun Mahathir on television and in the newspapers.

His visit means a lot to us here. We never thought he would want to come here.

Even though he is old, he is more handsome than on television. When I grow up, I want to be like Tun Mahathir who is strong and has a lot of energy, he said.

Started in 1984, the shelter hom is managed by JKM for the benefit of the needy and children up to 14 years of age who have learning disabilities.